Abigail couldn't wait

 
One morning after coming in from taking Lillian to the bus stop, Rebecca came inside and found Abigail on the counter. Abigail had wanted to go out to the bus stop, too, but she was not dressed. And it was cold and snowy outside. Rebecca said she would dress Abigail when she got back; evidently, Abigail couldn't wait. Rebecca is still not quite sure why Abigail decided to empty the spice cupboard, too.

Family Letter 2007

January 5, 2008
Dear Family and Friends:
Rebecca was determined that we get our annual letter off to you before the end of the year, and then all of us, except Rebecca, got the flu for Christmas. Between being sick and having new video games to play, it has been difficult to get to the computer to finish this letter. Rebecca noted that we have to get this out now because we got Christmas themed photo cards, so I am delaying perfecting my Wii javelin throw to write.

Jacob is now in 7th grade at Wiley Middle School, participates in Model UN, Power of the Pen, band (lessons last spring really helped because now sounds resembling music come out of his French horn), has a blog (http://thewyrmnews.blogspot.com), a weekly paper route, enjoys learning languages—he is working on French now—and finally has scout leaders do scouting. Our first troop camping trip was to Allegheny State Park in New York the day after Thanksgiving. It was very cold. As the only deacon in our ward, Jacob coordinates passing the sacrament at church and was in charge of building clean up after meetings on Sundays. Jacob also went on his first trip to the Columbus Ohio Temple to perform baptisms for the dead; and out ate the other boys at Home Town Buffet. Jacob has also grown physically—he is only two inches shorter than Rebecca, or six inches longer than last year’s pants—and competed with our city’s swim team last summer.

Joseph entered 6th grade at Roxboro MS with his Asperger’s group this fall. Being with teachers trained to work with autism spectrum kids has been really good for Joseph. He has learned many coping skills, and we have not gotten a call from the principal’s office in 18 months. He even greets people without prompting on occasion; it still takes him several hours to finish his homework though. Middle school has been good for Joseph, so far. He likes the variety of coursework, including his music class that explores musical theater and performance—great for kids who need some independence and individuality. He’s also enrolled in geometry class. Joseph is very good at math. Joseph’s obsession is video games, whether on the computer or Wii. Fortunately, he has to trade piano practicing for video game time, so he’s also getting pretty good at the piano.

Lillian attends Canterbury Elementary and is in the same 3rd grade class as her best friend. She is our most social child and has an outgoing and charismatic personality. Of course, she also knows everything, has a crush on Harry Potter, talks on the phone with friends (an exciting milestone to be sure), is becoming competent with online games that involve growth and development of virtual animals, and now wears glasses. Lillian is continuing a long tradition of outspoken, strong-willed people that join our family. She also grew a few inches this past year; it’s a weekly challenge to spot and remove mid-riff-baring shirts that have suddenly appeared in her wardrobe.

Emma is in 1st grade with at Canterbury, and she is a great student, excels at math, is making great strides in reading, and she tries very hard to be good and do things right at school. But Emma’s concerns for uncomfortable clothing, tight spaces, and scary bedtime monsters have gotten worse the last couple of months. It has been quite disconcerting and stressful for Rebecca trying to convince Emma to wear something without going through screaming fits. We think that her clothing issues are expressions of anxiety, possibly about school, so we have decided to bring her home for school for the rest of the year. Emma has been attending a delightful dance class that focuses on movement and fun, and she is quite graceful. She is also very good at working with her hands, and she loves doing all sorts of crafts.

Sam is in preschool at Gearity School. We had not planned on putting him in preschool, but he was very convincing. On the first day the other kids got on the bus and headed to school, Sam started to get on the bus, too, but Rebecca said to him that he was not going to school on the bus. Sam asked, “So are we walking or driving to my school?” and then sat on the floor in the living room with his loaded backpack until the kids came home that day. Two days later, Sam was going to preschool. It has been good for him, in part because it gives him something to do. Sam’s favorite question is “What can I do now?” and does not stop asking until he has an answer he likes. He is our best helper and is the only child that will volunteer to do chores if the chore involves using a tool, like a vacuum, broom or hand-mixer.

Abigail is almost 16 months old, and she is constantly on the move—walking, running, dancing, climbing, hanging from the chandelier (I have photos); she is a very busy girl and just beginning to use words to express herself. One of her most clear words is “yes;” the other is “cheese;” as in, “Abby, would you like some cheese?” “Yes. Cheese.” This of course obliges her parents to open the refrigerator and retrieve a slice of cheese for the hungry girl. I recently heard an editorial on nicknames on the radio, and I have decided that “Sparky” is a good name for Abby. It is full of electricity, motion and excitement, and has a ring of optimism. Keeping up with Abby is nearly impossible. She wants to help by sitting on piles of dust that have been swept of the floor, checking cookie dough consistency with her hands, aiding in the dispersal of Halloween candy abandoned on siblings’ beds, discarding useless items like phones, purses and clothing into the garbage can. That’s my Sparky; always busy; always keeping us moving; always looking to catalyze another reaction.

Rebecca has done a remarkable job managing our household this last year and keeping track of the kids various schools. She has also kept up with her costuming skills doing Sound of Music for Shaker Heights Middle School and This is Kirtland for our church. She has just started costumes for SHMS production of Music Man. She has decided to not work for H&R Block this year. She would like to spend time with the family, especially if I manage to get back into school this winter.
I am now working for the Cleveland Museum of Natural History, and I may get to work on a PhD at Case Western Reserve University. I am also serving in the bishopric, and I really enjoy this calling. I like organizing Sunday meetings and getting things done.

Family Book of Mormon Study

Our family has set a goal to read the Book of Mormon together, and try to keep up with the Sunday School reading schedule. We are using Bookcraft's The Book of Mormon for Latter-day Saint Families as our family version. This edition has footnotes, pictures, colored symbolic indicators and commentary that provide insight into what is being said in the verses on those pages. Our children have been following along pretty well, and the pictures help to keep the younger ones more involved. I have actually been surprised at how engaged Emma and Sam have been some evenings, sitting on Rebecca's lap as she reads. Most nights they run around, but they will loop back in to see the pictures on each page.

The commentary and definitions provided in the footnotes have also given our family discussion points. For example, Jacob's favorite scripture verse is 1 Nephi 2:15, "And my father dwelt in a tent." The footnote in this book references Hugh Nibley, and he says that the ancient Near East considered dwelling in a tent a great honor because it symbolized closeness and trusting in God; the father's tent was also the center of the community. Nephi points out his father's tent in Chapter 3 & 16, too, and when we read those passages, we stopped and recognized the significance of the reference, part because it tells of the different circumstances that Lehi's family was living in, but also because Nephi recognized that his father was a prophet of God.

One of the other things that I like to do while reading scriptures is to like them unto us (1 Nephi 19:23) and find the common message in the stories being told. Last week, we had endured an hour of "murmuring" from our children in reference to the meal that was prepared--a new recipe of mashed potato soup with roasted butternut squash puree. Jacob was particularly vocal and uncompromising in his complaining, it was very unpleasant. (Thanks, Mom, for cursing me with children just like me). Following dinner, I read 2 Nephi 2, and here is Lehi trying to tell his children how important it is to be grateful for being in the promised land. As I read this chapter, I inserted ideas for things we in our family should be grateful, such as a bounty of good foods and a mother that is a good cook. At the very least, our kids listened intently trying to discern my insertions, the mood lightened, and I gained greater empathy for Lehi and my parents with the struggles with their children.